Dates
Biographical History
W. Cleon Skousen (1913-2005) was a political lecturer, author, and police chief of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Willard Cleon Skousen was born in Raymond, Alberta, Canada on January 20, 1913, to Margarita Bentley and Royal Pratt Skousen. The family moved to San Bernardino, California, when Cleon was 10. He studied at Juarez Academy in Mexico for 9th and 10th grade while living with his grandmother in Colonia Juarez. Skousen served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the British Isles. He later attended San Bernadino Valley Junior College, where he served as student body president and excelled as a debater and public speaker. He went on to attend George Washington University and received his J.D. degree. Skousen was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and was also admitted to practice before the Federal District Court of appeals. In 1935, while still attending law school, Skousen entered J. Edgar Hoover's FBI and was subsequently appointed as a Special Agent. Skousen married Jewel Almira Pitcher Skousen on August 13, 1936, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They had eight children. Skousen served in various parts of the United States during WWII and was appointed to a supervisory administrative position at the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C. Skousen left the FBI in 1951, after 16 years of service, to become the Director of Public Services and member of the faculty at Brigham Young University. In 1956, he was given a leave of absence from BYU to reorganize the Salt Lake City Police Department, where he served as Chief of Police until 1960. In the fall of 1960, Skousen became Field Director for the American Security Council, as well as the Editorial Director of Law and Order, a police magazine. He returned to teach at BYU from 1967 to 1978. Skousen's loyalty to America's founding fathers and the Constitution led to his founding of the Freeman Institute in 1971, which was later renamed the National Center for Constitutional Studies. He served as president of the NCCS until 1988, working on educational courses, speeches, and writings aimed to educate citizens and elect government officials with similar views on the Constitution. Skousen authored many books and spoke prolifically across the United States. Some of his best-selling publications include "The Naked Communist," "So You Want to Raise a Boy?" "The Making of America," and "The Five Thousand Year Leap." He also wrote books on religion, including "The Prophecy and Modern Times,” and "Treasures from the Book of Mormon.” Skousen passed away January 9, 2006, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Citation:
W. Cleon Skousen papers, 1913-2006 (W. Cleon Skousen b. Raymond, Alberta, Canada January 20, 1913; family moved to San Bernardino, California, when Cleon was 10. Studied at Juarez Academy in Mexico for 9th and 10th grade while living with his grandmother in Colonia Juarez. Served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to the British Isles. Later attended San Bernadino Valley Junior College, where he served as student body president and excelled as a debater and public speaker. He went on to attend George Washington University and received his J.D. degree. Was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and was also admitted to practice before the Federal District Court of appeals. In 1935, while still attending law school, entered J. Edgar Hoover's FBI and was subsequently appointed as a Special Agent. Married Jewel Almira Pitcher Skousen August 13, 1936, Salt Lake City, Utah; had eight children. Served in various parts of the United States during WWII and was appointed to a supervisory administrative position at the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C. Left the FBI in 1951 to become the Director of Public Services and member of the faculty at Brigham Young University. In 1956, given a leave of absence from BYU to reorganize the Salt Lake City Police Department, Chief of Police until 1960. In the fall of 1960, became Field Director for the American Security Council, as well as the Editorial Director of Law and Order, a police magazine. Returned to teach at BYU from 1967 to 1978. Loyalty to America's founding fathers and the Constitution led to his founding of the Freeman Institute in 1971, which was later renamed the National Center for Constitutional Studies. Served as president of the NCCS until 1988, working on educational courses, speeches, and writings aimed to educate citizens and elect government officials with similar views on the Constitution. Authored many books and spoke prolifically across the United States. Publications include "The Naked Communist," "So You Want to Raise a Boy?" "The Making of America," and "The Five Thousand Year Leap." Wrote books on religion, including "The Prophecy and Modern Times,” and "Treasures from the Book of Mormon.” d. January 9, 2006, in Salt Lake City, Utah)
found: His The story of the Mormon pioneers, 1947.
found: Wikipedia WWW site, Sept. 24, 2009 (under Cleon Skousen: Willard Cleon Skousen; b. Jan. 20, 1913, Raymond, Alta.; d. Jan. 9, 2006, Salt Lake City, Utah; American conservative author and political commentator)
Family Search, February 9, 2023 (born to Margarita Bentley and Royal Pratt Skousen)
Deseret News, via www, February 9, 2023 (16 years in FBI)
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4 Sub-Series 9
Scope and Contents
Contains papers created or collected by W. Cleon Skousen throughout his various professional activities. Includes research files of clippings, publications, overhead transparencies, curriculum, lecture and educational materials, proposals for new coalitions, articles, emails, and letters on American history, the U.S. Constitution with or without a religious context, world politics, survivalism, conspiracy theories, political candidates, family studies, monetary policy, nuclear warfare,...
Dates:
1911-2005
Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents
Contains administrative records of the Freemen Institute as collected by W. Cleon Skousen in his role as founder of the organization, including letters, articles, notes, training course agendas and curriculum, publicity materials and files on their creation, event and financial records, minutes, and clippings on the United States Constitution, monetary policy, families, communism, and world affairs. Includes audio and video event recordings, educational material, and promotional material....
Dates:
1961-1987
Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents
Papers related to W. Cleon Skousen's time as a professor of religion and American history and government at Brigham Young University. Skousen was employed as a professor from December 1951 to August 1956, and from 1967 to 1978. Materials include a recollection on Skousen's first five years as a professor, anonymous student ratings of his religion classes, notes and articles used in teaching classes on the constitution, Relgion 232-H class notes, and the university faculty and administrative...
Dates:
approximately 1951-1976; 2002
Series
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4
Scope and Contents
Contains materials collected or created by W. Cleon Skousen throughout his varied careers and professional activities. Includes letters from Senator Orrin Hatch, religion scholarship research and drafts, documents from several organizations Skousen was affiliated with or founded, drafts and research for various publications and speeches, subject files on his FBI and Salt Lake City Police chief careers, documents from his time as a Brigham Young University professor, and other plaques,...
Dates:
1911-2005
Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 9364 Series 4 Sub-Series 8
Scope and Contents
Contains materials created by W. Cleon Skousen in his work as an author, teacher, and scholar of Christian scripture and Latter-day Saint history, including articles used in research, religious curriculum development, clippings, notes, letters from or about church leaders or religious topics, publications, and documents about travel and research abroad, including leading travel groups to Israel. Includes drafts of "Days of the Living Christ," "Prophecy and Modern Times," "Majesty and God's...
Dates:
1946-2005
